The National Congress of American Indians released this update on the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. The organization is asking folks to speak up and voice their opinions about the bill’s future, which is included in the national health care reform legislation. Information is included on how to reach key legislative representatives. Thanks.
Legislative Update:
Health Care Reform & Indian Health Care Improvement Act
Health Care Reform & IHCIA
Indian Country has a significant stake in the passage of the national health care reform bill. In addition to a number of positive provisions that were secured in both the House and Senate bills, our health care bill, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), has been included in the national health care reform legislation. Including our bill in this way was the best possible strategy for passing the IHCIA in Congress this session.
Last week, the future of health care reform and the IHCIA was significantly altered. On Tuesday, Republican candidate Scott Brown (R-MA) won a special election to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy. Brown’s election means that Republicans now have 41 members in the Senate, thus ending the Democratic “supermajority” of 60. His election would enable Senate Republicans to filibuster any health care compromise.
Congressional Democratic leadership and the Obama Administration have been working throughout the week to develop a strategy to move forward. While many ideas have been offered, no decisions have been made regarding the next steps for health care reform.
Possible Strategies to Move Health Care Reform & IHCIA Forward:
· Passing the Senate-passed legislation, H.R. 3590, “as-is” in the House of Representatives;
· Passing the Senate legislation, as noted above, with the House and Senate agreeing to modify certain provisions at a later date using the budget reconciliation process; and
· Starting anew and focusing on popular health care reform provisions that were included in multiple bills.
It is critical to Indian Country that the House of Representatives include the IHCIA in any strategy to move Health Care Reform.
Action Item:
Please contact your Representative and ask them to sign the attached letter to Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, to ensure that any strategy to move the health care reform bill includes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
· Locate your Representative: http://www.house.gov/
· Congressional Switchboard: 202.224.3121
· Letter to the Speaker
For Additional Information:
* Contact Ahniwake Rose at arose@ncai.org or 202.466.7767.
January 29, 2010
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
H-232 Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20515
Here’s a sample letter to send to Pelosi:
Dear Madam Speaker:
As you know, final passage of H.R. 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act, and H.R. 3590, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as passed by the Senate, included reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA). If included in the final health reform bill, the IHCIA would sustain, expand, and modernize the Indian Health Service (IHS), which provides comprehensive health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Legislation to reauthorize the IHCIA has been pending before the Congress since 1999, and enacting this long-overdue reauthorization will provide much needed improvements and certainty to the delivery of Indian health services.
Enormous disparities in accessing high-quality health care exist in Indian Country. The best way to move toward health care parity for tribal communities is to ensure that Indian health care providers are able to participate equally in the health care delivery system. IHCIA would bring us closer to that goal. At the same time, it is essential that health insurance reform respects and fulfills the federal responsibility to provide quality health care to Native Americans, while remaining sensitive to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indian health providers’ unique needs.
It is a trust obligation of the federal government to provide for the wellness of our tribal communities. As Congress works toward addressing health care reform, it is vital that reauthorization of the IHCIA is retained in the final product.
Thank you for your consideration.
That’s all for now.
Jodi Rave
